Kenny Atkinson is doing something special for the Cleveland Cavaliers and he is quite literally making history.
The Cavs took down the Chicago Bulls on Friday night and now have a 14-0 record.
According to NBA on ESPN, Atkinson is the only coach in NBA history to win the first 14 games to start a tenure with a franchise.
One thing is very clear: Atkinson is a great fit for this Cleveland team.
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson is the ONLY coach in NBA history to win the first 14 games to start a tenure with a franchise 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xNWv4RtXQT
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 16, 2024
Some fans felt the Cavaliers needed to do more than get a new head coach in the summer.
They expected, and wanted, some substantial roster changes.
But the front office took a chance on their team and believed the core of players they had could work, they just needed a different leader.
Right now, that looks like the perfect choice.
Atkinson has been an NBA coach before, of course, and led the Brooklyn Nets for four seasons.
He has also been an assistant coach for the New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Golden State Warriors.
There were multiple candidates to become the new head coach in Cleveland but Atkinson proved he had what it takes.
He understands how to make this group of players work and has unlocked a new level for them.
Because of the astounding success of the team, people are calling Atkinson a Coach of the Year candidate.
But Atkinson could do something even more special than that.
He might be one of the few to lead a team to the NBA Finals during his first year as their head coach.
This team has a lot of talented players but the MVP might be Atkinson.
NEXT: Fans React To Cavs' 14-0 Start
